The famous red carpet has always been an indispensable part of the Oscars ceremonies since 1961, but its color will break from tradition for the first time in 2023.
The Oscars is a widely recognized and esteemed ceremony, but for the past six decades, there has been one constant: the red carpet. The red carpet has varied hues over the years, but it has always been some shade of red until this year.
Why is the Oscars ceremony held every year?
The Oscars ceremony is an annual star-studded event that recognizes the best in the film industry, having taken place since 1929. The ceremony comprises different categories such as best actor, actress, director, and best picture, among others. It is one of the most anticipated and important events for the film industry and receives worldwide attention.
The Oscars carpet will no longer be red
For over 60 years, the Oscars red carpet has been an integral part of Hollywood's biggest night. The iconic red carpet was first introduced at the 33rd Academy Awards in 1961 and has been a fixture ever since. It was the first televised ceremony, broadcast on ABC and hosted by Bob Hope. T
The general public would not see the red carpet in all its glory on television until 1966 when the Oscars were first broadcast in color, reports Fox News. Since then, the special shade of red, known as Academy Red, has become instantly recognizable in photos and has become synonymous with glamour, sophistication, and prestige.
Over the years, the Oscars red carpet has hosted some of the most iconic fashion moments in history, including Björk's infamous swan dress in 2001, and Lady Gaga's meat dress in 2010. The red carpet has always been the place where stars come to showcase their fashion, style, and elegance.
However, this year, the organizers have changed the color of the carpet. Outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, workers unspooled a champagne-colored carpet, a very radical break from tradition.
Why was the red carpet color changed?
According to the Independent, the decision to change the color came from creative consultants Lisa Love, a longtime Vogue contributor, and Raúl Àvila, the creative director for the glamorous Met Gala in New York.
Love believes that there has always been a disconnect between the elegant black-tie dress code and the fact that it’s mid-afternoon when people arrive to be photographed in the daylight. With a covered carpet, the organizers hope to make the event feel more like an evening event, despite taking place in the mid-afternoon. She told The Associated Press:
'We turned a day event into night. It’s evening, even though it’s still 3:00.'
The decision to go with a champagne-colored carpet over a red carpet shows how confident the organizers are that no blood will be shed, according to Jimmy Kimmel, who is hosting the Oscars. He said:
'I think the decision to go with a champagne carpet over a red carpet shows how confident we are that no blood will be shed.'
Additionally, the Oscars' new carpet team has made changes to the dress code, with dark blue or black attire required for anyone not on camera, as there are design elements meant to highlight the nominees and guests.
Who is hosting the Oscars this year?
According to the Washington Post, this year's Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and it will be the 95th Oscars ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 12 and be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 95th Academy Awards will commence at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET in the US and 12 am GMT in the UK.
In the US, the Oscars can be viewed on ABC. Fans in the UK can watch the Oscars live on four channels: Sky News, Sky Cinema, Sky Arts, and Sky Showcase, starting at 12 am on each channel.
Those without cable can stream ABC on services like Sling TV, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
A panel of celebrities and movie experts, led by Alex Zane, will provide analysis throughout the event.
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